At Sagarmanthan: The Great Oceans Dialogue 2026 in New Delhi, MENA2050 co-organised with the Observer Research Foundation (ORF) the “Governing the Corridors of Tomorrow: Lessons for IMEC” session. The session brought together experts from international organisations, financial institutions, government, and the maritime sector to explore how the India–Middle East–Europe Economic Corridor (IMEC) can move from strategic vision to practical implementation.

As economic corridors increasingly shape global trade, investment, and regional integration, their success depends on more than physical infrastructure. Effective governance, coordinated regulation, common standards, and sustained institutional cooperation are essential to building resilient and commercially viable connections between regions.

From strategic vision to practical implementation

The discussion examined lessons from established and emerging economic corridors, focusing on the governance frameworks and partnerships needed to support IMEC's development. Panellists explored how India, Europe, and partner countries can align investment, regulation and infrastructure, facilitate interoperability, and establish mechanisms for long-term cooperation.

The conversation also highlighted the importance of institutional resilience and flexibility in a changing geopolitical, economic, and technological landscape. Ensuring IMEC's long-term success will require coordinated efforts among governments, financial institutions and private sector stakeholders to create an enabling environment for investment and sustainable economic cooperation.

Bringing together international expertise

The session opened with scene-setting remarks by Hervé Martel, Chief Executive Officer and Chairman of the Executive Board of the Port of Marseille Fos, France.

The panel featured Eli Bar-On, Co-Founder and CEO of MENA2050; Luisa Antonia Rodriguez Ortega, Economic Affairs Officer at UN Trade and Development; Marie-Estelle Rey, Senior Advisor at the OECD; Rajesh Kumar Sinha, former Special Secretary at India's Ministry of Ports, Shipping, and Waterways; and Niraja Shukla, Senior Investment Officer – Transport at the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank (AIIB).

Ariel Ezrahi, Head of the MENA2050 Energy Transition Committee and member of the MENA2050 IMEC Task Force, moderated the session.

MENA2050 also extends its special thanks to Roger Bertozzi, Head of the MENA2050 IMEC Task Force, for his dedicated work in shaping the session.

Strengthening regional connectivity and cooperation

For MENA2050, the discussion reflects the importance of bringing together diverse perspectives to identify practical pathways towards greater regional and inter-regional cooperation. IMEC offers an opportunity to strengthen economic links between India, the Middle East, and Europe, but its success depends on the ability of participating countries and institutions to translate shared ambitions into coordinated action.

By examining the governance, investment, and institutional dimensions of economic corridors, the session contributed to the broader dialogue on how IMEC can develop into a resilient, effective, and sustainable platform for connectivity.

MENA2050 warmly thanks ORF for its partnership and congratulates its fellow conference partners: DP World, Fincantieri, the OECD, the Kingdom of the Netherlands, Norway, Konrad-Adenauer-Stiftung, the Korea Institute for International Economic Policy,  and the German Maritime Museum.

MENA2050 is proud to contribute to the ongoing conversation on IMEC, maritime connectivity, and economic corridors linking India, the Middle East, and Europe.